Tee

The golf tee is widely used to hold the stationary golf ball before a player can strike it by the golf club. Apart from golf, it is used in other sports as well such as Baseball, American football and Rugby. The tees are pinned inside the ground strongly enough so that they won’t be affected by the clubs.

Manufacturing of Golf Tees

The standard golf tee has a length of 2.12 inches. They resemble knitting nail with additional holder on the top where the ball is kept. The tees are usually made of sturdy materials such as wood and plastic. Many variants of the tees are available such as the longer tees (3 to 3.5 inches) and the shorter tees (2 to 2.5 inches). The longer tees provide additional height to the balls. It aids to perform a significant trajectory angle while striking the shot. The manufacturing materials are quite inexpensive due to their repeated use and hence won’t matter if they broke down during the matches.

Types of Golf Tees

• Wooden tee - Wooden tees are the most popular ones. Their size varies from 2.25 inches to 4 inches. The 2.75 inches size of the tee is the standard size used by the professionals. The tee has a narrow body (shaft) with a circular holder which resembles cups. The tees provide an average-sized surface area for holding the ball over it. These are usually available in white colour or plain wooden texture. For the more massive clubface strokes, the extra-long wooden tees are highly favoured. These are the most durable tees and didn’t break-off easily.  
• Anti-slice tee - The anti-slice tees are made from plastic with an additional cup holder on the back of the shaft. These tees are designed in such a way that when the club comes in contact with the tee, it hits the ball without creating a side spin from the club’s angle.
• Friction-free tee - The friction-free tees are also made from durable plastic with a structure similar to the wooden tee. It has a group of various points (three to six) despite of a holder cup. The points effectively reduce the friction of the balls and also provide a better launch angle. The points increase the trajectory motion of the ball and have been considered as an exceptional alternative for holding the balls.
• Brush tee - The brush tee is basically a plastic tee that uses a soft brush bristles to hold the ball in a stationary position. The bristles reduce the friction and resistance of the ball resulting in longer shots off the tee.

Development and Evolution of Golf Tees

The earliest golf tees had a flat surface to hold the balls. In 1889, the first patent of the tee was issued to Scotsmen William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas. The first tee was composed with rubber holder and was patented in 1892. Then in 1899, the golf tee was improved with a wooden cone and a rubber sleeve. Later in 1920, the wooden tees were used with a wooden grip and a flared top. The new age tees are strong and durable to use.